Child marriage is a significant issue in Pakistan, where according to the UN, Pakistan has the sixth-highest number of child brides in the world. Child marriage has serious consequences for the girls involved, including a higher risk of health problems, domestic violence, and poverty. Girls who are married young are also more likely to drop out of school and have lower literacy rates. Additionally child marriage also has a detrimental effect on the social and economic development of the country as a whole.
The government of Pakistan has taken some steps to address the issue of child marriage. Recognising the importance of the issue, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) issued a Policy Brief on the Legal Framework on Child Marriage in Pakistan in 2022. The Policy Brief discusses Pakistan international human rights legal framework, national and provincial legal framework and case-laws. The Policy Brief also gives detailed recommendations to key statekeholders in addressing the issue of child marriage.
Read the Policy Brief on The Legal Framework for Child Marriage in Pakistan.
